Kit for preparing a bone filler mixture, a cartridge specially adapted to said kit, and an implantation set including said kit

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a kit for preparing a mixture of a natural or synthetic bone filler material with blood or physiological serum. According to the invention, the kit comprises a stand, a cup, and a tube for containing the mixture, the tube being open at both ends, the stand having receiver means for receiving one end of the tube in a vertical position, and the cup including an orifice in its center and communicating with a sleeve for releasable assembly on the other end of the tube.

TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION APPLIES

The present invention relates to a kit for preparing a mixture of natural or synthetic bone filler material with blood or physiological serum, optionally accompanied with ground bone.

A particularly advantageous application of the invention lies in the fields of periodontology, implantology, and orthodontics, where there is a requirement for such a mixture, in particular for filling a socket after extraction or for mitigating a bone volume deficit when performing implantation.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

In general, bone filler material is in a dry form, comprising granules or powder packaged in a flask.

At present, there does not exist a device that is simple and reusable and that is adapted to preparing and applying a bone mixture in a bone cavity of a patient.

The practitioner usually mixes the granules or the powder in a sterile cup with the patient's blood or with physiological serum, and optionally with ground bone in order to form a homogenous and malleable composition which is applied by means of a spatula in the bone cavity in question.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose a kit device that can be used several times, that is simple to use, and that is compact, enabling the practitioner to make up the desired mixture easily from the various components and to condition the mixture in such a manner as to make it ready for injection into the bone cavity of a patient.

More particularly, the invention provides a kit for preparing a mixture of a natural or synthetic bone filler material with blood or serum, the kit comprising a stand, a cup, and a tube for containing the mixture and open at both ends, the stand including receiver means for receiving one end of the tube in a vertical position, and the cup including in its center an orifice which communicates with a sleeve for releasable assembly on the other end of the tube.

Other advantageous but non-limiting characteristics of the kit of the invention are as follows:

-   -   said receiver means of the stand is provided with releasable         assembly means adapted to co-operate with complementary assembly         means provided on the tube;     -   said complementary assembly means provided on the tube are         adapted to co-operate with the releasable assembly means of a         cylindrical duct of an injection syringe;     -   said tube is a trephine provided with teeth around the periphery         of its front opening and adapted to be releasably assembled by         said complementary assembly means to the end of a mandrel of a         bone recovery drill device for driving it in rotation;     -   said receiver means of the stand includes a sealing ring for         establishing a leaktight junction at the opening of the tube         between the tube and said receiver means;     -   the stand includes receiver means for receiving the sleeve of         the cup, distinct from said receiver means for receiving the end         of the tube, and adapted to close said orifice;     -   said receiver means for receiving the sleeve of the cup is a         generally cylindrical peg of diameter slightly smaller than the         inside diameter of said sleeve;     -   said receiver means for receiving the tube is a generally         cylindrical peg of diameter slightly smaller than the inside         diameter of the tube; and     -   said assembly means are pin means, or bayonet means, or         snap-fastening means, or even screw-fastening means.

The invention also provides a cartridge of mixable bone filler material, the cartridge comprising a tubular shell arranged in such a manner as to form said tube of the kit of the invention.

Finally, the invention provides an implantation set comprising a box containing at least one bone-taking trephine, at least one injection syringe with an injection duct having assembly means at its distal end for releasably assembling with said trephine, and a kit of the invention.

Advantageously, in this implantation set, the height of the box when closed by a lid is substantially equal to the height of the stand with the cup engaged on the receiver means of the stand of said kit so that said box, when closed, is suitable for containing said stand positioned flat on the bottom of the box and carrying said cup on its receiver means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, shows what the invention consists in and how it can be implemented.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an overall exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the kit of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 kit when assembled;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 kit in which the cup is mounted on the tube for introducing the mixture into the tube;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a bone-injection syringe having mounted thereon the tube of the FIG. 1 kit filled with a mixture; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the inside of a set of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a kit device 100 for preparing a mixture of natural or artificial bone filler material with blood or serum, optionally together with ground bone.

The kit 100 comprises a stand 110 in the form of a plate, a cup 120, and a tube 130; 130′ that is to contain the mixture, and that is open at both ends 130A, 130B; 130′A, 130′B.

The stand 110 includes receiver means 111A, 111B for receiving one end 130A; 130′A of the tube 130; 130′ in a vertical position.

In this example, the receiver means is a generally cylindrical peg projecting perpendicularly from the top face of said stand 110. The peg has a base 111A of diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said tube 130, 130′, and surmounted by a stud 111B of smaller diameter. A step is formed at the junction between the base 111A and the stud 111B. This step advantageously receives a sealing ring 113 for establishing a leaktight junction at the opening 130A; 130′A of the tube 130; 130′ between the tube 130; 130′ and said receiver means 111A, 111B.

The receiver means 111A, 111B is preferably provided with releasable assembly means 112 adapted to co-operate with complementary assembly means 131; 131′ provided on the tube 130; 130′.

In this example, the releasable assembly means are bayonet means comprising, in the tube 130; 130′, two grooves 131; 131′ positioned symmetrically about the axis of said tube and opening out into the edge of the opening 130A; 130′A of the tube, these grooves 131; 131′ being shaped to receive rods 112 positioned in corresponding positions on the stud 111B of the peg carried by the stand 110, with assembly being performed by a quarter turn.

Naturally, in other embodiments (not shown), the means for releasably assembling the tube 130; 130′ on the peg could be pin means comprising a housing at the rear end of the tube for co-operating with a pin provided on the peg, the pin being resiliently actuated by means of a spring.

In other variant embodiments (not shown), provision could be made for the assembly means to be of the snap-fastener type or of the screw-fastener type.

In addition, and as shown more particularly in FIG. 4, said complementary assembly means 131 provided on the tube 130 are preferably adapted to co-operate with releasable assembly means of a cylindrical duct 201 of an injection syringe 200. The tube 130 extends the cylindrical duct 201 of the bone-injection syringe 200 axially, which syringe further comprises a piston rod 202 adapted to slide in said cylindrical duct 201 extended by the tube 130 in order to inject the mixture contained in said tube 130 into the bone receiver site of a patient.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, in an embodiment of the kit of the invention, said tube 130′ is a trephine provided with teeth 132′ around its front opening 130′B and adapted to be releasably assembled by said complementary assembly means 131′ to the end of a mandrel for being rotated by a drill device in order to recover bone.

As an example of such a drill device, mention is made of the device described in French patent No. 2 816 824. That drill device is remarkable in that it comprises a trephine fitted internally with a blade for grinding bone. This narrow blade extends longitudinally along the axis of the trephine and has an end provided with two sharp edges forming a point which extends in the plane of the front opening of the trephine. This blade forms part of a drill bit suitable for being releasably assembled to the trephine by bayonet assembly means, as described above, and comprising a mandrel enabling it to be driven in rotation, with the trephine being mounted at the end thereof in releasable manner, secured to said blade and extending in the opposite direction thereto.

In another variant embodiment of the invention that is particularly advantageous, the tube 130 of the kit 100 constitutes the tubular shell of a cartridge of mixable bone filler material.

When it is for use by a dental surgeon, the tube 130; 130′ has an outside diameter lying in the range about 3 millimeters (mm) to 8 mm and it is about 20 mm long. Naturally, when it is for use in orthodontic bone surgery, it may have a diameter and a length that are greater.

Furthermore, according to an essential characteristic of the kit 100 of the invention, its cup 120 has an orifice 121 in the center of its bottom, which orifice communicates with a sleeve 122 suitable for being releasably assembled on the open end 130B; 130′B of the tube 130; 130′ opposite from its end that is engaged on the peg of the stand 110. For this purpose, the inside diameter of the sleeve 122 is equal to the outside diameter of the tube 130; 130′ (ignoring clearance).

The cup 120 of the kit 100 performs two distinct functions.

It forms a funnel enabling the bone mixture to be introduced cleanly into the inside of the tube 130; 130′ so that it is ready for injection into the receiver site in the patient.

On this topic, it should be observed that the cup 120 shown in the figures presents an inside wall that is slightly conical with a flat bottom, however in another variant (not shown) provision could be made for the conical shape of the inside wall of the cup to be more marked and for its bottom also to be conical in shape, opening out into the central orifice 121.

The cup 120 also forms a mixing receptacle into which the practitioner can pour the natural or synthetic bone filler material, the blood or the physiological serum, and optionally ground bone, which can be taken using the trephine-forming tube 130′, and then mix these ingredients together prior to mounting the cup 120 on the tube 130; 130′ while it is mounted vertically on the stand 110 so as to introduce said mixture into the tube 130; 130′.

Advantageously, the stand 110 of the kit 100 includes receiver means for receiving the sleeve 122 of the cup 120 and distinct from said receiver means 111A, 111B for receiving the end of the tube 130; 130′, and adapted to close said orifice 121. The cup 120 is then put into place on said receiver means for storage or for use as a mixing receptacle, prior to being used as a funnel on the tube 130; 130′.

In this case, the receiver means is identical in shape to the receiver means 111A, 111B for receiving the tube 130; 130′ on the stand 110. It is constituted by a generally cylindrical peg standing perpendicularly on the top surface of said stand 110. The peg comprises a base 115 of diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of said sleeve 121, and surmounted by a stud 114 of smaller diameter that closes the orifice 121. When the stud 114 closes the orifice 121 of the cup 120, its free end comes flush with the bottom of the cup 120. A step 115A is formed at the junction between the base 115 and the stud 114.

Thus, using the invention, the practitioner can take ground bone from the patient with the above-described drilling device, then pour the ground bone into the cup 120 of the kit 100 or into another cup of larger size, mount the trephine tube 130′ on the stand 110 ready to receive the mixture, mix the ground bone together with the synthetic or natural bone filler material and the blood or the physiological serum in the cup 120, and then mount the cup 120 on the tube 130′ in order to introduce the resulting mixture into said tube 130′. The mixture is ready to be injected into the bone cavity of the patient. This injection is advantageously performed by means of an injection syringe having the tube 130′ filled with the mixture mounted on its end.

In a variant, the practitioner can pour the content of the cartridge of the invention into the cup 120 of the kit 100 and then use the tubular shell of said cartridge as the tube 130 of the kit 100, mounting it on the corresponding receiver means of the stand 110. The practitioner can then mix the bone filler material with blood or physiological serum, and then mount the cup 120 on the tube 130 to introduce the mixture obtained in this way into said tube 130. The mixture is ready to be injected into the bone cavity of the patient. This injection is advantageously performed using an injection syringe having the mixture-filled tube 130 mounted on the end thereof.

FIG. 5 shows an implantation set comprising a rectangular box 1 closed by a lid 2 mounted via hinges 3 to pivot on a wall 1B of the box 1. The box 1 and its lid 2 are made of plastics material, for example. The box 1 contains: at least one trephine 130′ for taking bone, in this example it has two trephines 130′ of different diameters mounted in seats 5; at least one injection syringe, in this example two bone injection syringes 200, 200′, with each of these syringes 200, 200′ comprising a piston rod 202, 202′ and an injection duct 201, 201′ provided at the distal end with means for releasably assembling to one of said trephines 130′; and a kit 100 of the invention.

The piston rods 202, 202′ and the injection ducts 201, 201′ of the bone injection syringes 200, 200′ are held in notches in two strips 4 projecting from the bottom 1A of the box 1.

The box 1 also has a platform 6 with a hole for receiving a mixing cup 7, in this case of rectangular shape, that is of a capacity that is greater than that of the cup 120 of the kit 100.

In this example, the trephines 130′ also constitute tubes for the kit 100 for preparing the mixture.

Advantageously, in this implantation set, the height h of the box 1 when closed by its lid 2 is substantially equal to the height h₁ of the cup 120 engaged on the receiver means of the stand 110 of the kit 100, so that, when closed, said box 1 is suitable for containing said stand 110 positioned flat against the bottom 1A of the box 1 and carrying said cup 120 on its receiver means.

The various elements of the kit 100 are made of a biocompatible material, e.g. out of quenched stainless steel. The tube 130 of the kit 100 may be made of a sterilizable synthetic material, particularly when it constitutes the tubular shell of the cartridge of the invention.

The present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described and shown, and the person skilled in the art can make any variation thereto in accordance with the spirit of the invention. 

1. A kit for preparing a mixture of a natural or synthetic bone filler material with blood or serum, the kit comprising a stand, a cup, and a tube for containing the mixture and open at both ends, the stand including receiver means for receiving one end of the tube in a vertical position, and the cup including in its center an orifice which communicates with a sleeve for releasable assembly on the other end of the tube.
 2. A kit according to claim 1, wherein said receiver means of the stand is provided with releasable assembly means adapted to co-operate with complementary assembly means provided on the tube.
 3. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said complementary assembly means provided on the tube are adapted to co-operate with the releasable assembly means of a cylindrical duct of an injection syringe.
 4. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said tube is a trephine provided with teeth around the periphery of its front opening and adapted to be releasably assembled by said complementary assembly means to the end of a mandrel of a bone recovery drill device for driving it in rotation.
 5. A kit according to claim 1, wherein said receiver means of the stand includes a sealing ring for establishing a leaktight junction at the opening of the tube between the tube and said receiver means.
 6. A kit according to claim 1, wherein the stand includes receiver means for receiving the sleeve of the cup, distinct from said receiver means for receiving the end of the tube, and adapted to close said orifice.
 7. A kit according to claim 6, wherein said receiver means for receiving the sleeve of the cup is a generally cylindrical peg of diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of said sleeve.
 8. A kit according to claim 1, wherein said receiver means for receiving the tube is a generally cylindrical peg of diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the tube.
 9. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said assembly means are pin means.
 10. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said assembly means are bayonet means.
 11. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said assembly means are snap-fastener means.
 12. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said assembly means are screw-fastener means.
 13. A cartridge of mixable bone filler material, the cartridge comprising a tubular shell arranged in such a manner as to form said tube of the kit according to claim
 1. 14. An implantation set comprising a box containing at least one bone-taking trephine, at least one injection syringe with an injection duct having assembly means at its distal end for releasably assembling with said trephine, and a kit according to claim
 1. 15. An implantation set according to claim 14, in which the height of the box when closed by a lid is substantially equal to the height of the stand with the cup engaged on the receiver means of the stand of said kit so that said box, when closed, is suitable for containing said stand positioned flat on the bottom of the box and carrying said cup on its receiver means. 